The coalition, which says it serves as the united voice for the business community on tort and workers’ compensation issues, reproduces the audit request letter and the attachment shown below on its website at www.sccjc.org .


Request to the Legislative Audit Council

For each claim please determine:
•   Whether a completed Form 50 (the complaint) was filed by the claimant.
•   Whether the body part(s) listed on the Form 50 was consistent with the body parts listed on the claimant’s Form 58 (the pre-hearing brief) and what body part(s) was listed. If different, please list the differences.

•   Whether a completed Form 51 (answer) was filed by the employer/insurer.
•   Whether a completed Form 14B (physician’s statement) was submitted listing the body parts injured and those affected; the date of MMI (Maximum Medical Improvement); AMA impairment rating(s); and whether the claimant will need future medical care.
•   Whether a Form 16 or Form 16A (informal conference settlement agreement) was filed.
•   Was the body part(s) listed on the claimant’s Form 50 consistent with the body parts listed on Form 16 or Form 16A, and what body part(s) was listed? If different, please list the differences.
•   What statutory citations were listed on the claimant’s Form 58 as the basis for compensation sought by the injured worker, or in other words, what type of benefits was sought? For permanent partial claims, specify if injury to more than one body part was claimed.
•   What impairment ratings were listed on the claimant’s and defendant’s Form 58? How did the commissioner’s or panel’s award compare to those ratings?
•   Is there consistency in awards among injuries that appear to be similar?
•   Whether a Form 61 (attorney fee petition) was submitted. If yes, what were the amounts of fees and costs requested and which sub-section (A,B,C or D) was used?
•   Whether the requested fee was approved or rejected? If rejected, how much was awarded?
•   What were the amounts of the attorney’s fees and costs that were approved?
•   If the initial attorney’s fee or costs were rejected, how did the amounts approved compare to those initially requested?
•   Whether a Form 19 (status report and compensation statement) was filed. If yes, what was the amount of attorney’s fees paid by the employer, and what was the amount paid by the claimant?

It typically takes the audit council several months to complete an audit and release a report to the General Assembly.